Eagles 3 Dodos 0. Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in the top four are in grave danger; almost extinct. Crystal Palace are fighting for their lives and are close to survival. This was a devastating defeat for Arsene Wenger, whose feeble side have now lost five of their last eight Premier League games. They are spiralling out of control, leaderless, seven points off the Champions League places. It is heading one way.

For Palace, a fifth win in six matches, adding Arsenal’s scalp to Chelsea’s. They thoroughly deserved this victory even if the gloss will be overshadowed, somewhat, by another Arsenal inquest.

Except what more can be said? There was one twist, however, with Arsenal’s vocal away support turning. “You’re not fit to wear the shirt,” they chanted and they appeared completely despondent, stunned, while Palace fans goaded Wenger with a chorus of “we want you to stay”.

It has come to this for Wenger. It was Bad All Over against Glad All Over.

He has never lost to Palace in the Premier League. But he has now and emphatically so; much to Sam Allardyce’s delight. But then neither has Wenger finished outside the top four and it is hard to see that record continuing either.

Perhaps they should have just parked itCredit: Getty

Arsenal had turned up late, delayed on their journey but were soon behind.

Palace were on the front foot; preying on Arsenal’s painfully obvious nerves and they profited when Christian Benteke competed with Gabriel for a long ball forward. It dropped to Andros Townsend, who combined with Yohan Cabaye. The ball was sent out right to Wilfried Zaha, who had cleverly pulled away and, as he slipped, his low cross was met by Townsend. The winger simply side-footed past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from close-range. It was Townsend’s first goal at Selhurst Park in almost seven months.

All Yellow: Arsenal's bus was late and they made a sluggish start v PalaceCredit: Getty

It had also been coming. Before that, Arsenal had gone closest, with Wayne Hennessey tipping away a curling, 20-yard shot from Mohamed Elneny but Arsenal seemed incredibly vulnerable to every Palace attack. Cabaye had shot over, when well-placed, from Mamadou Sakho’s cut-back after the defender had been allowed to chest down a free-kick. Luka Milovojevic had fired narrowly wide after Benteke had again spread panic in the Arsenal defence.

It was summed up when Martinez and Hector Bellerin made a hash of playing the ball out with the right-back looking away and the goalkeeper miscuing a pass for him straight into touch. Arsenal just could not clear their lines with any certainty and when Shkodran Mustafi was booked, for bringing down Townsend, he was fortunate to have not already been cautioned for an even more reckless challenge on Benteke. Mustafi was struggling. Badly.

The goal had to sting them and it did with Alexis Sanchez testing Hennessey and then leaving the goalkeeper on his heels as he again cut back inside only to send a bouncing shot just beyond the far post.

Arsenal held sway on possession, passed the ball, but were being bullied at the back whenever Benteke or Sakho were involved. Every set-piece or cross provided a danger while Sakho continued his astonishing defensive form as he cut out Mesut Ozil’s cross and then blocked Sanchez’s follow-up as Arsenal threatened to draw level.

The Rock: Mamadou Sakho was a titan in defence for PalaceCredit: Reuters

But it was Palace who should have gone further ahead when Benteke was allowed to collect Zaha’s pass inside the area only to push the ball wide. Even so he drove a near post shot that Martinez deflected for a corner. On half-time there was one final opportunity, for Arsenal, with Gabriel rising to meet a corner only for Hennessey to collect. Before that Danny Welbeck had sent a cross-shot beyond the far post.

Arsenal were sleepwalking. They needed to rouse themselves after the break but it was Palace again threatening when Zaha skilfully worked his way down the right and crossed for Townsend to ease the ball on to Benteke only for his goal-bound shot on the turn to ricochet off Bellerin. They sensed they could kill the game off and Benteke then turned the ball home after Martinez parried Townsend’s shot only to correctly be pulled up for offside before Jason Puncheon guided a header that was held by the goalkeeper.

At the other end, Bellerin should have done better when Sanchez picked him out. He volleyed weakly. Wenger had seen enough. He made a double change with both Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey introduced. But it was Palace who struck with Townsend finding Zaha. The wide-man slipped as he delivered his cross, but found Cabaye nevertheless. Cabaye lofted a first-time shot over Martinez and into the net. Again Arsenal were a defensive shambles.

For a side with their ambition and resources this was desperately poor as Palace dominated them. And simply wanted it more.

It got worse. Townsend latched onto a header and Martinez slid in to challenge, with Bellerin also there, and the England international was brought down. Penalty. Luka Milivojevic stepped up and drove the ball fiercely past Martinez. It also meant Arsenal had conceded three goals in each of their last four away league games which is, frankly, a gutless return.

Time on ball (at full time)

Final whistle: Crystal Palace 3 Arsenal 0

Glorious for Palace, they were superb. Arsenal an absolute shambles. Let the games begin......

Powerful: this man has done a print outCredit: Sky Sports

Arsene Wenger post match quotes: "Penalty killed our game. I think they were sharper than us in the duels, in many decisive situations. It is not the right moment [to answer why Palace won the second ball]. They were stronger, especially Benteke.

"What we said in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. It is damaging result, of course, a difficult defeat and consequences on our chances to make the top four.

"You understand that our fans are very unhappy. We came here with the hope that we would win the game.

"Every defeat is a big worry. I have managed over 1,200 games for Arsenal and you do not expect defeats like that.

"I cannot go on forever* after a game like that. I am disappointed and determined to put things right."

* [this was a bit unclear, it could be that he meant he doesn't want to talk on and on about the result. Geoff Shreeeves did not press him further. Hard to say if he meant that he 'cannot go on managing' or 'cannot go on dissecting the performance'- AT]

78 mins

Sting has gone out of the game, Arsenal tearfully looking at their ice cream splodged and melting on the pavement. Big Sam thinking about how he will celebrate, and thinking he will most likely start with venison.

74 mins

Time on ball (60 - 75 min)

72 mins

Bellerin dinks a ball in with the delicate touch one would expect from a man who carries not one but two man purses. Giroud is within a whisker of tucking it in at the far post but is just a touch too slow.

69 mins

PENALTY!

Townsend into the area, takes it round the keeper. Looks to me like he's a distant second favourite to reach the ball, but the keeper sells himself, and Townsend is able to leave enough of his leg in there to get the penalty. Probably a dive, but it looked a really good penalty claim in real time.

63 mins

GOAL PALACE! Get that right up you

More woeful defending, Mustafi sliding around like a dog on lino, as Madame Lawro so memorably put it. Benteke to Cabaye, quick and crisp one two with Zaha out on the right, and the Arsenal defenders look like they have been drinking heavily, stumbling and staggering about two yards behind the game. Cabaye cracks it at goal and that's a belter.

Time on ball (45 - 60 min)

60 mins

There is something wildly irritating about Arsenal, I can see why their fans hate it so much. It's hard to put your finger on but it's that mix of entitlement, of bloodlessness, the moral superiority. Or is that the fans? It's difficult to isolate. But something about the way they play does make you want to throttle the lot of them.

Time on ball (first half)

Average touch positions (half time)

45 mins

The Sanchez-Monreal combo, Arsenal's sole bright spot, wins a corner down the left. Good corner, superb run from Gabriel, who loses his marker and plants his header on target. Acrobatic but ultimately comfortable save from Wayne H in goal, and that's the last action of the first half.

24 mins

22 mins

Here are Palace again, freekick near the corner. Arsenal, who are a rabble right now, fail to clear. Arsenal cut wide open! Lovely pass from pass from Zaha to set up Cabaye. Oh thank goodness for the Gooners, there's an offside flag.

GOAL! PALACE! 1-0 to the home side

Crystal Palace take the lead, and it's Andros Townsend with the goal: 1-0.

Benteke put himself about a bit, won a high ball. Townsend slipped it to Cabaye, who played it out to Zaha on the right. Zaha slipped as he crossed the ball but it didn't matter. Andros Townsend had carried on his run and he slotted it home. Well done Palace, they have been playing with more verve, more heart, and more sharpness.

Palace have done it

Time on ball (0 - 15 min)

13 mins

12 mins

Palace have the obvious game plan: sit deep, dig in, use the pace of Zaha et al to break. Here is said Zaha doing just that, but Arsenal have woken up and the attack is snuffed out with some ease this time.

Arsenal respond

6 mins

Arsenal really sloppy. I'm not saying they won't win, but they need to raise their game. Mustafi has upended Benteke, child referee Michael Oliver lets the game run, and Milivojevic shoots over. No booking for the Arsenal defender.

2 mins

1 mins

Anyway, the Gunners kick off and are being given time to pass it around. But they've given it away! Palace can counter down the left. Cross comes in... and that's an encouraging claim from keeper Martinez. I think it was Andros who crossed it but the break happened at great pace, I always enjoy watching Palace's wide players, something of a strong suit for them I would say.

Politicos getting involved with sport

Good evening football fans

How's your Monday? Short week, just a few days to go, and then it's Happy Bunny Day And His Eggs, or Easter as I believe it is also known, and that's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? Or not. I don't know. Anyway, let's enjoy some excellent football this week, including the Champions League, and first of all, the visit of Arsenal to Crystal Palace, a fixture that has POTENTIAL BANANA UPSET written all over it for old Mad Dog Wenger and co.